DIY Denitrator

[Lageo04]

I'd like to get some input from anyone that has built, purchased, or are using a coil denitrator.
I've been thinking about building one from Don Carner's DIY plans.

Link http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/bldondiydenitratornew.htm

I've been dealing with high nitrates for months now. I've finally have been able to get under 80 ppm but that's with massive water changes twice a week. My own fault for letting them get out of hand. (overfeeding and not large enough water changes)
Doing 55 gallon water changes for a 150 tank twice a week is costing a fortune in salt.
I believe I'm doing everything I can to control it, RO,DI, 0ppm out, good skimming, no sponges, cleaning display and sump when doing water changes, fuge full of macro.
I know I have one other thing that I belive may be adding to the problem is a very large sleeper gobi that loves to rearrange my sand bed. If I'm right a dsb is suppose to be left alone so it can do its job.
So I'd like to try a denitrator if anyone thinks it may help and if the gobi is my problem I guess I'll have to put him in time out. I hate to get rid of him, he's been one of my first fish I got a year ago.
Any input on a coil denitrator would be appreciated.
Thanks
George

 

[Bennihanna]

I would beware coil denitrators. Too fast down the coil and just more aerobic denitrification and more nitrate is produced. Too slow down the coil and your get anearobic hydrogen sulfide bacteria. I think you are on the right track with a fuge and water changes. What kind of skimmer do you have? Have you cut back feeding? Have patience you are doing all of the right things.

 

[joseph]

This might be a silly question but are you siphoning off as much detrious buildup as possible?

 

[SSweet1]

I am in the same boat you are in. I cant seem to get the nitrates down no matter what I do. I have clams, big well stocked refuge, and a big skimmer. I bought a denitrifier from someone here on the forum. When I got it, it didnt come with a controller. The previous owner said he just dosed manually. I havent been brave enough to try it out yet but with little to no change after massive water changes I am seriously thinking of hooking it up. It is a Natureef denitrifier see natureef.com for info.That new Sulfur unit from midwest aquatics looks very nice but $400 is more than I want to spend if I can get this one to work. I also started the prodibio bio clean kit that is supposed to reduce nitrates, you might try this too cause it is only $14. I cant say yet if it works or not, it has only been a week.
All my other levels are correct and things look great in the tank but the nitrates do concern me, I am at 40ppm now.
Carrie

 

[SSweet1]

I forgot to say, the goby is not the issue especially in a 150 gallon tank so keep him

 

[Lageo04]

Definitely has to have the exact flow rate.
I'm running a asm G-3. I took off the return sponge and now I have to do the mod for a gate valve. The water noise is bad.
The last water change I cleaned all the plumbing and skimmer. Amazing how much gunk can collect even with all the flow
The siphoning question is kind of right on. I do clean as much as possible but no matter how much flow I have through the tank I still need to manually blow off the rock. I have pukani rock and it's real porous so a lot of detritus does collect. At least I don't have a lot of bio load, Only 5 fish.
If you've seen my pics on my website at least the tank looks good, just the bad readings on nitrate.

 

[Lageo04]

Carrie I also am using the Prodibio. I'm doing the complete routine but Rob also told me the other day that if I'm having nitrate problems that I shouldn't use the reef booster. He said it will add to the nitrate problem. Just when I found something that my sunpolyp loves. I dose the reefbooster and he gets all happy.
Back to the highchair and spoon feeding him. LOL

 

[floridareefs]

Lageo, you sound like you got a great setup and the asm g-3 is a great skimmer to say the least. Nitrates are a funny thing, but as Swweet said, the goby would not be causing the spike. Josephs tip on siphoning the detrious off the rocks etc may help to reduce them and clarify the tank. I have no experience with denitrification setups and would interested in learing more.

 

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7150803#post7150803 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lageo04
Carrie I also am using the Prodibio. I'm doing the complete routine but Rob also told me the other day that if I'm having nitrate problems that I shouldn't use the reef booster. He said it will add to the nitrate problem. Just when I found something that my sunpolyp loves. I dose the reefbooster and he gets all happy.
Back to the highchair and spoon feeding him. LOL

how big is your cleanup crew? i just don't get where you are getting all these nitrates from if you are using rodi and you only have 1 fish in a 150g... have you tested the nitrates in your rodi makeup/water change water?

 

[Lageo04]

nikonosis I probably have at least (just rough guess) 150 or more crabs and snails. Also these I can count, 3 emerald crabs, 4 queen conchs, and 1 fighting conch. Also one cleaner shrimp.
The fish total is 5 Two yellow tangs, one passer angel, one maroon clown, and the sleeper gobi.
I do check my make up water just to see a nitrate test that shows zero.

Floridareefs that's where I hope someone has used them. I don't have a clue either. As Bennihanna said earlier if it's not adjusted right as far as flow you can end up with something worse than nitrate.

 

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7151766#post7151766 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lageo04
nikonosis I probably have at least (just rough guess) 150 or more crabs and snails. Also these I can count, 3 emerald crabs, 4 queen conchs, and 1 fighting conch. Also one cleaner shrimp.
The fish total is 5 Two yellow tangs, one passer angel, one maroon clown, and the sleeper gobi.
I do check my make up water just to see a nitrate test that shows zero.

Floridareefs that's where I hope someone has used them. I don't have a clue either. As Bennihanna said earlier if it's not adjusted right as far as flow you can end up with something worse than nitrate.

thats nuts that your nitrates are so high for what you have in there. maybe your cleanup crew is too big and are pooping too much?

 

[Lageo04]

That's funny, My wife says everytime she goes and looks at the tank, that something is pooping.

 

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7151887#post7151887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lageo04
That's funny, My wife says everytime she goes and looks at the tank, that something is pooping.

lol